The Reining Horse Foundation and NRHA mourn the passing of Charles “Charley” Vaughan, 96, of Lafayette, Indiana, on February 21, 2026.
Charley had a prolific career as a trial lawyer. Away from the courtroom, he had unbridled enthusiasm for horses and golf. He became a respected competitor and breeder in the National Reining Horse Association, building a program whose bloodlines still run through some of the finest reiners in the sport, including NRHA Hall of Fame mare Miss Tinseltown. He won many horse shows as a competitor himself. In 2021, Charley received the NRHA Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his longstanding dedication to the sport.
The family has designated gifts in Charley’s memory to the Reining Horse Foundation. Learn more on his memorial page.
